Sanofi Pasteur Begins Shipping Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for Upcoming 2014-2015 Season in United States

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, announced today that the first lots of Fluzone (Influenza Vaccine) for the 2014-2015 influenza season have been released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for distribution. The lots were shipped on July 21, 2014, representing the first of at least 65 million doses of seasonal influenza vaccine manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur that will be delivered to U.S. health care providers and pharmacies in August.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual influenza vaccination for everyone six months of age and older, with rare exception[i],[ii] - this means people should be vaccinated again even if they were vaccinated last season as immunity may wane.

Furthermore, while influenza disease activity typically peaks in February, public health officials recommend that people seek influenza vaccine as soon as it becomes available in their community to ensure season-long protection.

"The flu impacts people in the U.S. every year, and the single best way to help prevent getting or spreading the influenza virus is timely vaccination," said David P. Greenberg, M.D., Vice President, Scientific & Medical Affairs, and Chief Medical Officer, Sanofi Pasteur U.S. "Sanofi Pasteur is committed to helping people fight the flu by offering a broad range of flu vaccine options to meet the needs of patients across multiple age groups."